Another 11 children have been brought back from the occupied Kherson region

Eleven children ranging in age from 1 year and 4 months to 17 years have been returned from the occupied territory of the Kherson region to territory controlled by Ukraine. While under occupation, the children were subjected to pressure, threats, and coercion in Russian schools.

This was reported by Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional State Administration. 

He said that a 16-year-old boy survived an armed attack by Russian soldiers in his own home. 

Another 17-year-old teenager was forced under threat to attend a school in the occupied territory and was later forcibly registered for military service. His family also endured regular armed searches.

The family of an 8-year-old girl was threatened that she would be taken to an orphanage if she did not attend a Russian school. There, the children were involved in propaganda activities, including being forced to draw postcards for Russian soldiers, as well as learning how to handle weapons and operate combat drones.

In total, since the beginning of the year, 219 children from the Kherson region have been returned from temporary occupation to territory controlled by Ukraine. The children are receiving assistance and support.

The children were rescued as part of the presidential initiative “Bring Kids Back UA” and through cooperation with the charity “Save Ukraine.”

As Intent previously reported, the Back to Ukraine team identified the first confirmed case of a missing child from the Kherson region who had joined the Russian army and is fighting against Ukraine. 

Юлія Калабайда